Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-09-01
BRIGllTS DISCIPLE.
Lord Harrington SIN Friendly with
His Mentor.

LONDON, Aug. 27--When Mr.. John
Bright announced on Thursday that he
would support the government in their
policy of prOClaiming the Irish National
League, all doubts were removed regard
ing the position which Lord Harrington
would assume The conjunction of Mr.
Bright and Lord Harrington is not un'
common, but it is always interesting.
Many of his friends have heard Lord
Harrington tell the story of the first oC.
Casion on which Mr. Bright exercised an
important influence ON his political career,
Lord Harrington entered the House of
Commons in 1857. and was not well pleas
ed with his early progress. He was neither
influential nor energetic. About 1860 he
met Mr.. Bright and held long and
friendly talk with him upon parliament.
AIRY life. Mr. Bright had recognized the
dignity and stcadfastncss of his character
and urged Lord Harrington TO devote
himself assidnously TO the parliamentary
work. Lord harrington refers to this
conversation as having had an immense
influence with him. and traces to this &C.
Cidcntal interview much Of his resolution
to perscverc in political work and much
Of such success rs he modcstly be.
llCltS W nave WtHltNtu. III
the next fourteen years their IT..
lations of mutual confidence grew
closer, and in 1874 Mr. Bright OK.
ertod his influence. which was never so
great rs then, to secure the election of
Lord Harrington as leader at the great
meeting of the liberal party in the Reform
club. II is hardly too much TO say that
he was the nominee of Mr.. Bright. From
that time they have had many differences
OF opinion, especially on England's Afri.
can, Asian and European policy, but Mr.,
Bright has never varied in admiration for
Lord Hartingtons clear judgment and
hard headed honesty of purpose.
Probably their agreement has been most
complete in regard to Ireland though Mr..
Bright could have sympathizcd with Lord
lIartington's doubts rs to the franchise.
The liberal unionists who voted with them.
were compelled to support Lord Salisbury
by the fact that the prime minister was
between two fires where they had assisted
TO place him, unwittingly it is true. Not
to proclaim the league was to acknowledge
the session was wasted. To proclaim ii,
on the other hand, was 10 substitute the
present tranquility of an almost crimeless
Ireland for an cmbittered and cxhaustlng
struggle, which must end in the substitu
ton Of the worst Of secret societies for
the league, and which will probably bring
about the crimes the act was nominally
passed TO prevent. The crimcless state of
Ireland is undoubtedly real surprise and
an embarrassment to the government. AS
they proceeded with the crimes bill the
grounds for IL, never very large, grew
smaller and smaller until 1t has become
difficult for conscientious men to make
use of ii. Between being INSCRIPTIONS
and appearing ridiculous IL was necessary
to choose, and the prohibition Of the gov
eminent to proclaim the league was just
what might haye been expected
1t Is really impossible any longer to
pretend that the League Is an organiza-
ton which creates and fosters crimes. So
far as its power extends II is used TO sup
press crime. When Il popular association
plays such part as this in country at
all times difficult to govern, and where IL
is peculiarly difficult to detect and pun
ish certain kinds of crime, the govern.
ment Of that country would do well to
look upon IL without excess Of jealousy.
II such an association has gained its
strength by presenting itself In the light
of an earthly providence TO majority Of
the population. and there is the evidence
of impartial outsiders like Sir Samuel
Laing, that the Irish farmers believe the
League to have been their "salyation,"
the question for the government TO con
slider is whether it can undermine that
influence, not by perceptible suppression
OF the association. but by taking its place
and doing its work. In other words, the
National League has, broadly speaking,
gained its influence by protecting the
tenant from eviction for the non payment
of unjust rent. Sometimes, perhaps, II
has Intcrfered when the rent was just,
but such cases were fewer than wascom'
monty supposed, and ii Is fact that the
League required to be satisfied as TO the
merits of every case OF non-paymcnt and
of threatened eviction before IL interfcrcd.
II, therefore, the government Of Ireland
can extend the same protection still more
effectively and under all the forms Of law
as undoubtedly it will render the asso
citation comparatively feeble without the
least necessity for the declaration Of war
implied in openly suppressing 1t.
The editor Of the Humboldt kOsm0s
has secured the general agency Of II new